Assured compliance mode of operating a combustion system

1. A method comprising:

a) specifying a low compliant level of a regulated emission parameter that is below a maximum level permitted in compliance with a governmental regulation;

b) generating exhaust in a preliminary mode by operating a reference combustion system with reactant flow rates that produce available heat;

c) measuring the available heat generated in the preliminary mode;

d) measuring the regulated emission parameter of the exhaust generated in the preliminary mode;

e) identifying a low range of the measured available heat in which the measured emission parameter is not greater than the low compliant level;

f) generating exhaust in an ordinary mode by operating a user combustion system with reactant flow rates that produce available heat in a target range above the low range;

g) detecting an alarm condition during the ordinary mode; and

h) while continuing to operate the user combustion system without a shut-down interruption, responding to the alarm condition by shifting the user combustion system from the ordinary mode to an assured compliance mode by reducing the available heat from within the target range to within the low range.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein a single combustion system is operated as both the reference combustion system and the user combustion system.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the reference combustion system and the user combustion system are different systems.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising, while continuing to operate the user combustion system without a shut-down interruption, correcting the alarm condition and subsequently shifting back from the assured compliance mode to an ordinary mode by increasing the available heat from within the low range to within the target range.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the low compliant level is not more than 75% of the maximum level.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the alarm condition is a malfunction of a combustion system component.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the alarm condition is a fuel composition.

8. A method comprising:

i) identifying an assured compliance mode of operation for a user combustion system by:

a) generating exhaust in a preliminary mode by operating a reference combustion system with reactant flow rates that produce available heat;

b) measuring the available heat generated in the preliminary mode;

c) measuring a regulated emission parameter of the exhaust generated in the preliminary mode; and

d) identifying a low range of the measured available heat in which the measured emission parameter is not greater than a specified low compliant level below a maximum level permitted by a governmental regulation; and

ii) configuring the user combustion system so that the user combustion system is operative to:

e) generate exhaust in an ordinary mode by operating with reactant flow rates that produce available heat in a target range above the low range;

f) detect an alarm condition during the ordinary mode; and

g) while continuing to operate without a shut-down interruption, respond to the alarm condition by shifting from the ordinary mode to the assured compliance mode by reducing the available heat from within the target range to within the low range.

9. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein a single combustion system is operated as the reference combustion system and also is configured as the user combustion system.

10. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the user combustion system and the reference combustion system are different systems.

11. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the low compliant level is not more than 75% of the maximum level.

12. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the alarm condition is a malfunction of a combustion system component.

13. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the alarm condition is a fuel composition.

14. A method comprising:

a) identifying a maximum level of a regulated emission parameter permitted by a governmental regulation;

b) specifying a target range of levels of the regulated emission parameter below the maximum level;

c) specifying a low compliant level of the regulated emission parameter below the target range;

d) operating a combustion system to produce exhaust and available heat;

e) measuring the regulated emission parameter of the exhaust;

f) measuring the available heat; and

g) identifying a low range of the measured available heat at which the measured emission parameter is not greater than the low compliant level, whereby the low range of available heat corresponds to an assured compliance mode of combustion system operation, wherein the assured compliance mode is entered upon detection of an alarm condition without ceasing operation.

15. A method as defined in claim 14 further comprising the step of specifying a threshold alarm level of the regulated emission parameter below the maximum level and above the target range of levels.

16. A method as defined in claim 14 wherein the low compliant level is not more than 75% of the maximum level.

17. A method as defined in claim 14 further comprising:

h) operating a combustion system in an ordinary mode to produce available heat in a target range of available heat above the low range of available heat, and to generate exhaust with levels of the regulated emission parameter in the target range of levels;

i) detecting an alarm condition during the ordinary mode; and

j) while continuing without a shut-down interruption, responding to the alarm condition by shifting from the ordinary mode to an assured compliance mode by reducing the available heat from within the target range of available heat to within the low range of available heat.

18. A method as defined in claim 17 further comprising, while continuing to operate without a shut-down interruption, correcting the alarm condition and subsequently shifting back from the assured compliance mode to an ordinary mode by increasing the available heat from within the low range of available heat to within the target range of available heat.

19. A method as defined in claim 17 wherein the alarm condition is a malfunction of a combustion system component.

20. A method as defined in claim 17 wherein the alarm condition is a fuel composition.

21. A method as defined in claim 14 further comprising the steps of configuring a combustion system to:

h) operate in an ordinary mode to produce available heat in a target range of available heat above the low range of available heat, and to generate exhaust with levels of the regulated emission parameter in the target range of levels;

i) detect an alarm condition during the ordinary mode; and

j) while continuing without a shut-down interruption, respond to the alarm condition by shifting from the ordinary mode to an assured compliance mode by reducing the available heat from within the target range of available heat to within the low range of available heat.

22. A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the alarm condition is a malfunction of a combustion system component.

23. A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the alarm condition is a fuel composition.